sentence correction

[Cyanr]

1. Q: Usually an atom (having) one, two, or three electrons in ( its) valence band (readily) contributes electrons to and receive electrons from (neighboring) atoms.

Which word in the bracket is incorrect?
I think (neighboring) in this sentence is wrong. It should be "the neighboring", but why? Could you explain to me? Thanks!

2. (My house) which I bought last year has a lovely garden before it.
Which one should I use? "The house" or "my house"? please explain why?

[Rusty]

1. Q: Usually an atom (having) one, two, or three electrons in ( its) valence band (readily) contributes electrons to and receives electrons from (neighboring) atoms.

Which word in the bracket is incorrect?
I think (neighboring) in this sentence is wrong. It should be "the neighboring", but why? Could you explain to me? Thanks!
(The only error I could find was not in brackets. Maybe Pete has a sharper eye).

2. (My house) which I bought last year has a lovely garden before it.
Which one should I use? "The house" or "my house"? please explain why?

(My house, which I bought last year, has a lovely garden. The which-clause is additional information and needs commas. It is not an essential clause because you have already identified the house as "my" house.

The house which I bought last year has a lovely garden. The which-clause is essential to the identity of the house. No commas are used for an essential clause.
Another comment: ..."in front of it" is more common than..."before it").

[Anonymous]

thank you Rusty! Yes, the first one was a miss printing from the original question.